User decorated photo mount

ABSTRACT

Corner mounts for decoratively releasably retaining and displaying a photo or other sheet provided with and area of adhesive on bottom of mount and top of mount. Each mount includes a top piece and a bottom piece, joined at peripheral edges forming a pocket. Adhesive is covered and protected by a sheet of protective adhesive release paper.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/066,270, filed 2008 Feb. 19 by the present inventor.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

1. Field

This application relates to photo corner mounts, specifically to such mounts having a pocket and used to releasably retain a photo or other sheet to a secondary surface such as a scrapbook.

2. Prior Art

Photo corner mounts have been available to consumers for many years in several basic colors, usually black, white or tan. Over the years photo corner mounts have evolved to include some additional colors, shapes and sizes. Additionally, photo corner mounts are now manufactured using man made polys as well as the traditional paper type.

Photo corner mounts are commonly used in the field known as scrapbooking. The scrapbooker today has available an endless supply of decorative paper on which to mount their photos. Photo corner mounts presently available are extremely limited in color, size and shape as compared to the paper and scrapbooks available on which to mount them.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,370,805 (2002, Thompson) describes a self adhesive photo corner mount intended for use on rounded corners. The mount has several alternative embodiments intended to provide decorative options of the mount for display. However, the consumer is still limited by color, shape, and size.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,779,391 (2004, Bergholtz et al.) describes a more traditional type of photo corner mount, intended for true corners. Made of paper, the top, or cap of the mount can be embossed during manufacturing to provide an element of decoration. Again, the consumer is still limited in choice of decoration type, color and size.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,991,330 (1991, Heidari) describes a different type of photo mount. This mount is a single layer of material and does not have a cap to form a pocket. The mount is butted against the sides of the photo to hold it in place while the adhesive on top is to hold a plastic cover sheet over the photos. Some plastics can cause fading or discoloration to the photo over time, as well as glare from lighting.

Therefore, a need exists for a photo corner mount with an area of adhesive on the top, enabling consumer with many options as to color, size and shape of the decorative element to be displayed on top area of the mount.

Advantages

From the description above, a number of advantages of some embodiments of my user decorated photo corner mount become evident:

(a) The photo mount provides user greater choice of photo mount decoration. Prior art is manufactured in a pre decorated state. This photo mount allows user to choose decoration, decoration colors and decoration shapes.

(b) A variety of photo corner mount sizes and adhesive area further extends versatility of the photo corner mount for embellishing.

(c) User can apply a decoration larger than the mount, covering a portion of the photo and still releasably retain the photo.

(d) A current scrapbook industry preferred method is to scan photos and save to computer, disc or other device, then print a copy of the original photo for scrapbooking, maintaining integrity of original photo. Some scrapbookers can not afford the equipment, do not have the time, or simply do not want to go through all the necessary steps scanning, copying and retrieving requires, and store their photos in boxes, envelopes or plain pocket type albums to maintain photo original. The current embodiment allows for these users to get their photos out of storage and display their original photos in scrapbooks currently available, utilizing many products of the industry to embellish the photo and retain photo original state. The corner mount may be used on a copied photo as well, providing a quick and easy way to embellish the photo.

(e) Photo corner mounts are simple and can easily be used by almost every age group, as well as those new to the art.

(f) Time, effort and money are saved. Consumer does not have to go on a lengthy search for a particular mount to coordinate with a display. Consumer does not have to purchase a variety package of mounts containing one particular color he/she has a need for.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one embodiment a user decorated photo corner mount having a plane of adhesive on top allows the user to decorate the mount with an embellishment in the user's choice of color, size and shape.

DRAWINGS—FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of the photo mount.

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the photo mount as it appears in operational state.

FIG. 3 shows a top view of another embodiment of the photo mount in operational state showing the mount made with a small adhesive area on the top photo mount.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of another embodiment of the photo mount in operational state made with a decorative top pocket edge and smaller adhesive area.

DRAWINGS-Reference Numerals 20 photo corner mount, entire unit 22 top protective release paper 24 top adhesive 26 top of photo mount 28 exterior surface top photo mount 30 interior surface top photo mount 32 top photo mount edge 34 top photo mount edge 36 top photo mount bottom edge 38 bottom photo mount 40 interior surface bottom photo mount 42 exterior surface bottom photo mount 44 bottom photo mount aperture 46 bottom photo mount top edge 48 bottom photo mount top edge 50 bottom adhesive 52 bottom adhesive aperture 54 bottom protective release sheet

DETAILED DESCRIPTION—FIGS. 1 AND 2—FIRST EMBODIMENT

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, references will now be made to the first embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, and language used to describe the same. No limitation of the scope of the invention is intended. The terminology used is for the purpose of description and not limitation. Any modifications of variations in the depicted device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein, as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates are considered to be within the spirit of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows the user decorated photo mount 20 which includes a top triangular shaped sheet 26 having an exterior surface 28 and an interior surface 30 and a bottom house shaped sheet 38 having an interior surface 40 and an exterior surface 42. The top edges 32 and 46 and the top edges 34 and 48 of the top photo mount 26 and the bottom photo mount 38 are joined by heating, pressing, solvent bonding, gluing or other means. The bottom edge of top photo mount 36 remains free, forming the pocket.

Top adhesive 24 is applied to exterior surface top photo mount 28. Bottom adhesive 50 is applied to exterior surface of bottom photo mount 42. Top protective easy release paper 22 is applied to cover and protect top adhesive 24. Bottom protective easy release paper 54 is applied to cover and protect bottom adhesive 50.

Bottom mount 38 has an aperture 44. Bottom adhesive 50 has the same shaped aperture 52 which is slightly larger than the aperture in bottom mount 38. The bottom mount aperture 44 will assist engagement of the primary sheet and mount 20. The aperture 44 could be omitted.

The mount 20 could be made using paper, paper products or photo safe polys.

FIG. 2 shows a top view of photo mount 20 in operational state with top photo easy release paper 22 and bottom easy release paper 54 omitted. As shown in FIG. 2, the top adhesive 24 encompasses a large portion of the photo corner top 26 enabling user to apply a substantially sized embellishment to the corner.

FIG. 3 shows a top view of an alternative embodiment of the invention in operational state with top protective easy release paper 22 and bottom easy release paper 54 omitted. The illustration shows the top photo mount 26 with a smaller top adhesive area 24. The photo mount bottom 38 retains the same size bottom adhesive area 50 as shown in FIG. 1. This mount could be made using paper and paper products as well as photo safe polys.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of an alternative embodiment of the invention in operational state with top protective easy release paper 22 and bottom easy release paper 54 omitted. Top mount 26 is showing a small amount of top adhesive 24 with top mount bottom edge 36 having a simple decorative cut. Bottom photo mount 38 and bottom adhesive 50 remain as in FIG. 1.

Operation—All Embodiments

The manner of using the user decorated photo mount to releasably retain a photo to a secondary surface is similar to that for photo mounts in present use. Namely, photo corner is inserted into photo corner mount pocket. Bottom adhesive is released and photo is applied to secondary surface using finger pressure.

Once photo and mount combination have been adhered to secondary surface, top adhesive area is exposed by removing the top release paper. User can then place embellishment of choice on exposed top adhesive using finger pressure.

Alternative Embodiments

Alternatively, the photo corner mount adhesive could be a super strong adhesive, a permanent adhesive, a repositionable adhesive or an adhesive that is repositionable when first released and becomes permanent over time elapsed.

The photo corner mount could be made in various sizes, shapes and colors with various adhesive area size. Although one embodiment of mount is shown as having traditional corner defining edges, the invention is not limited to mounts having that configuration. The edges defined by the bottom and top may be provided with other non linear patterned shapes.

The bottom of the mount and top of the mount could extend beyond the apex of top pocket providing a larger adhesive area on bottom exterior and top exterior. Bottom of mount could be smaller or equal in size of top pocket.

The aperture in the bottom of the photo corner mount could be any simple shape or omitted. An alternative to the aperture would be a recessed line crossing the photo corner mount bottom following the bottom edge of the photo corner mount top or other recessed shape.

Another embodiment would be multiple photo corner mounts on one larger sheet of protective release paper. Also mounts could share the protective release paper as in being rolled or stacked.

The photo corner mount can be made using photo safe polys, paper and paper products.

Conclusions, Ramifications, and Scope

Accordingly, the reader will see that the user decorated photo mount of the various embodiments can be used to decoratively mount a photo using embellishments of choice, easily coordinating the mount with the secondary surface to which it is applied and at the same time releasably retaining the photo in its original state. Furthermore, the user decorated corner mount has the additional advantages in that:

It provides a simple way for people of almost any age to easily and inexpensively create an attractive display of photos while maintaining integrity of the photo.

Photo corner mounts have been available in various shapes and forms over 100 years. Attempts have been made to provide a larger selection of decorative mounts. The choice is still limited in comparison to the large amounts of decorative paper available on which to mount photos. Using the proposed mount, consumer can easily coordinate the mounted photo with the display using a simple scrap of paper.

Stickers have been manufactured to provide decorative corners for display. Stickers do provide some decorative options, but they are also limited. Use of sticker corners has adhesive coming in contact with the photo, thereby forever changing the photo from original state.

Existing manufacturing equipment can easily by modified to produce the mount.

Although the description above contains specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments. For example, the aperture could be any simple shape or omitted; the protective release paper could be utilized to protect the adhesive on two mounts at the same time, as in rolled up or stacked; a surface of adhesive could extend beyond the apex for larger embellishments, etc.

Thus the scope of the embodiments should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given. 

1. On a photo corner mount of the type comprising a body of material having a top piece and a bottom piece joined at peripheral edges to form a pocket, having an area of adhesive and protective adhesive release paper on bottom exterior surface, the improvement wherein top exterior surface has a layer of adhesive covered by a protective release paper.
 2. The mount of claim 1 wherein said body of material is composed of suitable predetermined materials.
 3. The mount of claim 1 wherein said bottom piece has an apex of about 90 degrees with top edges extending from apex a predetermined length then continue parallel a predetermined length.
 4. The mount of claim 1 wherein said top piece has an apex of about 90 degrees, with top edges extending from apex a predetermined length.
 5. The mount of claim 1 wherein said top and bottom pieces are aligned and joined at said top edges by a suitable procedure forming a pocket to receive a photo or other sheet corner.
 6. The mount of claim 1 wherein said top and bottom piece exterior surfaces have an area of adhesive and protective adhesive release paper.
 7. The mount of claim 1 wherein said bottom piece and bottom adhesive have a predetermined shape aperture or recess.
 8. A photo corner mount of the type comprising a top piece and a bottom piece joined at peripheral edges forming a pocket, having an area of adhesive and protective adhesive release paper on bottom exterior surface, characterized in that the top exterior surface has an area of adhesive and a protective adhesive release paper.
 9. The mount of claim 8 wherein said bottom piece has an apex of about 90 degrees with top edges extending from apex a predetermined length and continue parallel a predetermined length.
 10. The mount of claim 8 wherein said top piece has an apex of about 90 degrees, with top edges extending a predetermined length.
 11. The mount of claim 8 wherein said top and bottom pieces are aligned and joined at said top edges by a suitable procedure to form a pocket able to receive a photo or other sheet corner.
 12. The mount of claim 8 wherein said top and bottom piece exterior surfaces have an area of adhesive and protective adhesive release paper.
 13. The mount of claim 8 wherein said bottom piece and bottom adhesive have a predetermined shape aperture or recess.
 14. The mount of claim 8 wherein said mount is made of a suitable material for a photo mount.
 15. A method of releasably retaining a photo or other sheet, comprising: (a) providing a photo corner mount of the type comprising a top piece and a bottom piece joined at peripheral edges forming a pocket, having an area of adhesive covered by protective adhesive release paper on bottom and top exterior surfaces, (b) providing a photo or other sheet and inserting sheet corners into mounts, (c) providing removal of bottom protective release paper exposing bottom adhesive, (d) providing finger pressure to affix combination of mounts and sheet to secondary surface, (e) providing for removing top mount adhesive release paper exposing adhesive, whereby said mount can easily be decorated to provide a pleasing display by applying an embellishment to top of said mount using finger pressure.
 16. The method of claim 15 wherein said mount is composed of suitable predetermined material. 